Match Thread Blackburn Rovers v Everton Thursday, 26th July 19:45 KO

[d4kyxx]

Not even surprised

Failed once again to get rid of the dead wood we said months ago we would do. Failed still to bring in the players we need (six apparently) yet with two weeks to go once again we are leaving ourselves with very little time

Why we persist with the likes of Pennington who clearly isn’t good enough and we have known this for ages I don’t know. Why we still persist with Williams etc? I could go on

But more alarmingly we are being outclassed by promoted league one sides (now championship) even with the players we have we still look dis organised and lack any sort of attacking prowess. For years we have lacked finishing in the final third and it still continues

Silva has only been here a month yes but the team still looks very disjointed and no improvement whatsoever from last year

Silva and brands needs to get there arse into gear get rid of the crap asap! Instead of saying it just do it!! And get the players in we need. Cannot for the life of me seeing us do it within two weeks

 

[verreauxi]

I think it was a brilliant strategy to play an Austrian 3rd division to get our confidence going so that when we get to some very challenging powerhouse teams in Ligue 1 and the championship we will simply brush them aside.

 

[tsubaki]

The only positive from tonight is that it’s only pre season.

I will start forming a judgement on the new regime come Christmas.

TBH I'll start forming a judgement on the new regime if some of those players reappear. Ashley and Phil were decent once, but not now and the club owes it to them to be honest.

 

[LouReedwalkonthewildside]

I know some keep saying it's only pre season etc, but we've actually only got 2 more friendlies left before the season kicks off, and we look way off all over the gaff.

 

[ProZ]

I was in my bedroom hiding under the covers.

Is it over yet? Safe to come out...

 

[Badge1878]

I know it's only pre-season but same old problems I see in that when we have the ball all the players in front of the ball don't move enough to shake off markers and when they have the ball we allow there players to have yards of space. We are too easy to play against and haven't a clue how to press properly and in unison. We also need to see more players in the box when attacking. Big job on for Silva and in desperate need of better players.

Richarlison, Walcott and Tosun should get some goals between them but at the moment still feel we need a bit better than Tosun. Priority is players that can release these players and feed them constantly. Defence is just a mess with half hearted players barring Seamus.

Nail on head mate - we are slow with the ball in making decisions, both for the lad on the ball and the options he is presented. From memory of the early season Watford and by the statement signing, Silva is looking to implement a quicker and pacier style than what we’ve seen with an overused 4231 formation of past seasons that struggled to retain the ball in the final third. A top three of pacy and direct forwards should offer a greater goal threat than what we had to suffer recently. Although not as much in evidence so far it will need us to be more aggressive in recycling the ball when we don’t have it, there was a depressing sense of urgency to close down players, maybe it’s still the conditioning phase of preseason but we’ve lacked any intensity to retain possession for the past three seasons, it exposes an ageing and on tonight’s viewing, dysfunctional back line.

Said before, this group of players have in the main seen their individual contribution overlooked in favour of blaming managerial weakness for our going through the motions approach to football. Seems that many are seeing that view change now and it’ll be uncomfortable, yet long overdue, for many of them to hear the criticism that seems inevitable at this very early stage of preparations.

 

[Forever Blue]

We need more signings, very disappointed with our summer business or lack of, laugh if you want but I think we should break the bank for Maquire, apparently they want a record fee for a defender which Utd won’t pay, we should, show we mean business, also reckon we should put in a cheeky bid for Liverpool’s Grujic , I reckon he’s going to be a player. Let’s start showing some real ambition

 

[deipnosophist]

up in auckland - yourself?

same mate...Auckland's my base.. but I move about on work a bit (presently divesting a hospitality portfolio sprinkled around the country)

 

[donny]

A bit like the Everton TV stream. Pretty rubbish for the most part, started to look almost reasonable by the end.

In summary, dire...

Agree.Mass panic on the forum over centre halves justified.Other teams are going to attack us from the off.Even if we signed 2 centre halves and LB theyl will not be bedded in.A couple of mistakes from any of them and we will start slating them.That's without the rest of flaws we have in the team.We have to be opimistic it's hard.

 

[Blues Harp]

Alright, everyone calm the F down.

We completely dominated the second half, but it's obvious we aren't good enough at CB. Holgate is hurt, Jags can't cut it anymore, but otherwise, I'm not too concerned with the bad play of guys like Besic or Mirallas that aren't going to play an important role this year anyways.

Tosun didn't finish well tonight, but he'll be fine, it's preseason, he's rusty.

But to say we don't have a plan is just stupid or unobservant. If you can't see how Silva wants to use his CBs, and DMs to spring the outside backs from the back, I just don't know what to tell you. He's doing EXACTLY what he's done everyone else. To say we can't execute is quite another thing and true, but mostly because of the limitations of the jokers we had back there in the second half.

Keep in mind, he has NOT fully put in with any level of rigor his counter attacking style. That's his bread and butter and will require quite a bit of positional work and awareness.

But to look at our personnel a bit more closely:

OUTSIDE BACK: Coleman looked great. Baines needs replaced, but Jedi, JonJoe, the outside backs once we get Digne are really good.
STRIKER: Tosun got in all the right places but didn't finish, and we know he can finish. Niasse didn't get any service, who knows. It's not a strength, but it's fine.
DM/CMs: Gueye looked great, Morgan looks better, Besic was a mess, Davies inconsistent, but we are going to add here. One strong number 8 and we are fine.
ACM: Gylfi is fine. There are options for backup, Lookman, Davies, Dowell, but we are fine.
Wing/Inside Fwd: Ricarlison looks great, we know Walcott is good, Sandro even looks decent, Lookman has talent, we are fine.
CB: Ok, it's a disaster. Holgate is decent, we know Jags is washed up, we know Keane is a mess although is footskills were good today, Williams is awful, and Pennington is horrendous. But we know someone like Mina and maybe two are coming in.

Mina is not coming ffs

 

[Chrismac]

Steks a half decent back up at best, jags/williams were both finished last season never mind this, Baines been a helluva servant but doesnt have legs to go up and down anymore so hesitates to go over halfway line and defensively has always been weak.
Davies is not, and unfortunately will never be the answer if we are wanting to progress as a club. Besic/Miralles/Vlasic/Niasse all not at the level required either.

Pickford/Seamus/Keane(with a decent CH beside him)Gana/Walcott/Richarlison/Lookman/Gylfi/Cenk are the only players i would be confident starting for us each week. Jordan only real quality part of spine of the team.
Lots of work needed from Brands & Silva

 

[TheBigIguana]

You didn't watch the game, did you?

Because Gana was outstanding, especially in his passing range. He was about the only midfielder that switched fields or got it out to the flanks, which is quite a bit of what Silva wants us to do. He's not just the least of our problems, he's a MASSIVE strength in our midfield and the reason why we dominated the second half, Jags screwup aside.

I'm having a tough time finding other people who thought the second half went well. Just need to take chances but if we are gonna have a cold streak it's a good time

 

[Big Bob]

Reminds me of last pre-season. We looked awful in every preseason game including the europa games. I kept telling myself it will improve with time, but it didn’t! Let’s hope it does this time?

 

[Nymzee]

I was in my bedroom hiding under the covers.

Is it over yet? Safe to come out...

“Hiding” under the covers.

 

[Joey66]

Need more than that. No point getting a striker in if we are just going to isolate them for 90 minutes.

Our striker missed two easy headers, Sig passed the ball into the keepers arms......